Vacuum-distributer for internal-combustion engines.



S. D. IRWIN. VACUUM DISTRIBUTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSHON ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.28. 19m.

1,297,855. Patented Mar. 18,1919.

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S D. IRWIN. VACUUM DISTRIBUTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28, I918.

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SAMUEL D. IRWIN, OF FLOYIJA'DA, TEXAS.

VAGUUM-DISTIRIIBUTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed August 28, 1918. Serial No. 251,776.

use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

While relating generally to internal combustion engines, my invention relates more specifically to vacuum-distributers for the type of vacuum-energized make=and-break spark-plugs shown, for instance, in United States Patent to' Herbert G. Irwin, No. 1,268,719, dated June 4, 1918, for an improvement in vacuum-energized make-and-break spark-plug.

The fundamental object of my invention is to provide a vacuum-distributer for this purpose which shall be automatic in operation, and which shall be timed so as to create a vacuum in the spark-plugs successively, at the proper periods. 7

Another object is toprovide a vacuumdistributer embodying novel means for lubricating the working parts thereof.

Another object is to provide the vacuumdistributer with a breather. whereby outside air may pass through the vacuum-dis I tributer to the crank-case of the engine, the breather being constructed so as to prevent the ingress of dirt and impurities to the vacuum-distributor, and to prevent egress from the latter of the oil-mist emanating from the crank-case wvith which the distributer communicates.

Other objects relating to specific improvements going to make up the ultimate perfection of the entire device will appear as the specification proceeds and the nature of the invention more fully appears.

With these objects in view, the invention, generally stated, resides in a vacuum-distributing apparatus embodying a rotating distributingmember communicating with the intake-pipe of the intake-manifold and controlled by the engine-shaft so that the vacuum-energized spark-plugs may be placed successively in communication with. said intake-pipe in timed relation with the movements of the engine, and the spark-plugs thereby energized.

The invention resides more specifically in the peculiar construction, combination and arrangement of parts of a vacuum-distributing mechanism, as will be hereinafter fully explained.

The accompanying drawings, forming part of my specification, disclose an illustratory concrete embodiment capable of carrying out the underlying principles of my invention. Like reference-characters desig nate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The several views of the drawings may be briefly described as follows:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my device in operative position upon an internal-combustion engine;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through my device, the lower part of the shaft of the rotating distributing-member being broken away; and

Fig. Sis a horizontal sectional view, on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring, now, in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a support, formed as a pipe, appropriately provided with an GlbOiW 2 having a lateral, circumferential flange 3 provided with openings 4, through which may pass securing means, such as screws, for fastening the support to the engine crank-case A around an opening in the wall thereof, whereby the pipe 1 communicates nvith the interior of said crank-case.

5 designates a casing or shell, annular in cross section, which is rotatably supported by the bracket 1 in any suitable manner, in thisinstance by means of a depending, tubular stem 6, annular in cross section and bearing against the inner surface of the bracket 1, as shown in Fig. 2. The bottom of the casing 5, at the top of said stem, bears upon the top of the bracket 2. Said stem may be conveniently provided with a spider, comprising spokes 7 radiating from a hub 8, constituting a bearing for a rotating shaft 9 extending axially of the bracket 1 and transversely through the elbow '2 thereof, and being provided, at its lower end, with a pinion or bevel gear. 10 meshing with a complemental gear 11 on the engine-shaft B, or some rotating shaft geared to the engineshaft andtimed so as to rotate at the same speed. Said shaft 9 is provided With a circumferential flange 12 bearing upon the top of the hub 8, as shown in Fig. 2, and pre venting downward displacement of the shaft. The flange 1:2 is provided with an arm 13 in the same plane as the flange, and constitute ing a shelf supporting a sliding shoe let, constitutii-ig the rotating distributing-n1ember, to be more particularly hereinafter described.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the shaft 9 is solid from the bottom thereof up to a point desirably coincident with the flange 12, thence the shaft is hollow up to the top thereof, as shown at 15. The hollow portion of the shaft is provided with longitudinallyextending slot- 16. Communicating with said slot is a hollow trunk 17 (see F 3) projecting from and carried by the hollow portion of the shaft 9, and preferably coextensive with the slot 16. Que wall of the trunk 17 is slotted, as shown at 18, this slot being preferably of the same length as the slot 16. Communicating with the slot 13 and consequently with the interior of the trunk 17 preferably through the medium of a hollow nipple 19 suitably secured to the trunk 17, as by screws 20, is one end of acrosssectionally arcuate tunnel 21, the other end whereof communicates, preferably through a similar nipple 22, with a slot 23 in the shoe or distributing-member 14.

Rising from the sides of the shelf 13 are walls 2%, 2% connected, at their top, by a bridge 25, similar to the shelf 13 and carried by the shaft 9. Thus, an open-ended box, as it were, is formed, whose top is the bridge whose bottom is the shelf 13, and whose sides are the walls 24, 24:; and projecting into and guided by this box is the 'shoe or distributing member it, provided with one or more sockets 26 (in this instance, two are shown). in each of which is a coiled spring 27 bearing, at one end, against the exterior of the shaft 9, and serving to maintain the rotating shoe in frictional engagement with a cylindrical and preferably removable lining 28 to the casing 5.

As shown, the shoe 1% is provided with a lateral skirt 14., which is hollowed out. on one face thereof, as shown, to provide a space or chamber 29 between the skirt and the lining 28.

The lining 28 and the casing 5 are provided with coincident ports 30, 31, 'respec tively. Each port 31 communicates with a hollow protuberance 32 carried by the shell or casing 5. The top of each protuberance is interior'ly threaded, as shown in Fig. 2; and screwed into such threaded end is the threaded end of a coupling 33. Secured in the coupling is one end of a preferably flexible pipe 3% leading to one of the vacuumenergized spa-rkeplugs C of the engine, these spark-plugs being of the type which is shown, for instance, in said U. S. Patent, No. 1,268,719.

Disposed on top of and reinovafbly secured to the casing is a. hood or cover 35 provided with one or more circumferentially-extending openings, in which are inserted reticulated screens 36, of line mesh. The hood is also provided with an axial openin as clearly shown in Fig. 2, through which the top of the shaft 9 projects.

Loosely encircling the upper end of the shaft 9, and projecting through the cap 35, is a sleeve 37, provided, at its lower end, with a circumferential flange 38 supported upon a circumferential flange 39 carried by the shaft 9.

Extending radially upward from the flange 33 are a plurality of arms i0, having.

angled ends 41, through which loosely project bolts 12, whose threaded ends are screwed into bosses a3 depending from the inner surface of the cap 35. Encircling the .sleeve 37 and hearin at one end against the top of the cap 35 and, at its other end, against the flange 38 is a coiled expansion spring as, exerting a downward stress upon,

the sleeve 37 and serving to maintain the same with its flange 38 in frictional engagement with the flange 39 of the shaft 9.

The sle ve 37 is provided, at its top, with a thread-nipple 45 on which is screwed a hollow coupling 4:6, with which communicates a preferably flexible tube 47 leading to the pipe D between the carbureter E and the intakeaanifold F of the engine.

Carried by the shell or casing 5 is a lever 4-8, by which the casing may be partially rotated, as desired, to advance or retard the spark or firing-time of the plugs C.

In a. device of this nature, it is important that the moving parts be properly lubricated at all th es, while in operation. To this end, therefore. the casing?) communicates, through the tubular bracket 1. with the interior of the crank-case A of the engine, and is provided with the reticulated screens 36 in the openings in the cover through which outside air passes in and out of the crankcase A, when the engine is in operation. The screens prevent dirt and impurities from enterin the shell or casing 5, and also tend to prevent the oilmist, which emanates from the crank-case A and passes up through the tubular bracket 1 into the shell fromescaping from the latter, as it would do if such openings in the cover 35 were not screened. Said oil-mist or vapor settles on the working parts within the shell 5 and properly luloricates the same at all times.

In operation, the device of my invention is so timed that, when the periodic vacuum occurs in the pipe I) in the operation of the engine. the shaft 9 will have been rotated as'to bringthe shoe or distributing-member 14: so that the space or chamber 29 communicates with the registering ports 30, 31 and the correspondingprotuberance 32, whereupon the suction is communicated to the corresponding spark-plug C from the intakepipe D, through tube t7, the hollow portion 15 of the shaft 9, the slot 16, the tunnel 21, the port 23 of the distributing-member 14, the chamber 29, the registering-ports 30, 31 and corresponding protuberance 32,- and tube The vacuum-impulse thus produced *in the vacuum-energized spark-plug operates the spark-plug, producing'a spark and firing the charge in the corresponding engine-cylinder.

Having thus fully described my invention, the many advantages thereof will be apparent, especially to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I am aware 1 that many variations, especially in matters of structural detail, may be made in the physical embodiment of the'invent-ion "herein disclosedybut it is to be understood that I am entitled to all mechanical equivalents, and that all changes which fall within the scope of the appended claims,

when construed in accordance with the-importance of this invention, do not constitute a departure from the spirit of'the invention.

plugs, of mechanism communicating with said spark-plugs and timed so as to automatically establish a vacuum in saidt sparl plugs, successively.

3. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs, of mechanism communicating with said spark-plugs and including rotatable vacuum-distributing member, for automatically establishing a vacuum 'in said sparkplugs, successively.

4. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs, of mechanism communicating with said spark-plugs for automatically establishing a vacuum therein, successively, said mechanism including a casing, and a revoluble vacuum-distributing member in said casing.

5. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized spark- 111 's of mechanism for automaticall es-- p h 7 tablishing a vacuum therein, successively, including a casing, a revoluble vacuum-distributing member in said casmg, and hollow connections between said casing and said spark-plugs.

6. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuumcnergized sparkplugs, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum therein, successively, including a casing, a revoluble vacuum-distributing member in said casing, hollow connections between said casing and said sparkplugs,'and a rotating shaft carrying said vacuumdistributing member.

7. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with the engine-shaft and with vacuum-energized spark-plugs, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, including a casing, a revoluble vacuum-distributing member in said casing, hollow connections between said casing and spark plugs, and a rotating shaft carrying said vacuumdistributing member and geared to the englue-shaft.

' 8. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with the crank-case of the engine and with vacuum-energized sparkplugs, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, including a casing, a hollow support for said casing and communicating therewith and with said crank-case, a revoluble vacuum-distributing member in said casing, and hollow connections between said casing and spark-plugs.

9. In an internal-combustion engine, the

combination, with vacuum-energized spark plugs, of mechanism for automatically establishing -a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, including a casing, a revoluble vaouum-distributing member in said casing and outwardly springpressed against the casing, and hollow connections between said casing and spark-plugs.

10. In an internalcombustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs, of mechanism for automatically establishlng a vacuum in said spark-plugs, suc cessively, comprising a casing, a support rotatably supporting said casing, a vacuumdistributing member rotatably supported in said casing, and hollow connections between said casing and spark-plugs.

11. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs and with the crank-case of the engine, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, comprising a casing, a hollow support for said casing communicating therewith and with said crank-case, a vacuum-distributing member rotatably supported in said casing, and hollow connections between said casing and spark plugs;

12. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs and with the crank-case of the enginc, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, comprising a casing having screened openings, a hollow support for said casing communicating therewith and with said crank-case, a vacuum-distributing member rotatably supported in said casing, and hollow connections between said casing and spark-plugs.

13. In an internal-e01nbustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs and with the intake-pipe of the intake manifold of the engine, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, comprising a casing communicating with said intake-pipe, a vacuum-distributing member rotatably supported in said casin and hollow connections between said casing and spark-plug and successively placed in communication with said intake-pipe by said vacuum-distributing member in the rotation thereof.

14. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuumenergized sparkplugs and with the intake-pipe of the intake-manifold of the engine, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, comprising a casing communicating with said pipe, a vacuum-distrilouting member rotating in frictional. contact with the wall of said casing and provided with a face hollowed out to provide a chamber between said face and said casing, and hollow connections between said casing and spark-plu 15. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs and with the intake-pipe of the intake manifold of the engine, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, comprising a casing, a rotatable shaft extending axially through said casing and hollow in the portion thereof within said casing, said hollow portion communicating with said casing, a hollow connection between said intake-pipe and the hollow portion of said shaft, a vacuum-distributingmember rotatably supported in said casing, and hollow connec tions between said casing and said sparkplugs.

16. lIn an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, comprising a casing, a support upon which said casing is rotatably mounted, a manually-operable lever carried by said casing for manually rotating the same, a vacuum-distributing member rotatably supported in said casing, and hollow connections between said casing and said sparkplugs.

17. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination, with vacuum-energized sparkplugs and with the engine crankcase, of mechanism for automatically establishing a vacuum in said spark-plugs, successively, comprising a casing, a hollow support for said casing and communicating therewith and with said crank-case, said casing in cluding a removable cover having. screened openings therein, a vacuum-distributing member rotatably disposed in said casing, and hollow connections between said casing and said spark-plugs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL D. IRWIN. Witnesses S. B. MAXEY, N. J. MYERS.

fiopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

